A fight between two cyclists during the Tour of Portugal race is a reminder of
how entertaining sport can be when competitors lose their temper.

Every once in a while, the passion and intensity of professional sport erupts into a nasty, aggressive mix of vitriol and violence. And when that happens, it’s really, really great.

Firstly because an old-fashioned scrap has been entertaining people the world over since time immemorial; and secondly because it’s reassuring to know that elite athletes, despite their painstaking dedication and robotic personalities, are still prone to occasionally throwing their toys out of their pram and whacking someone.

Those lucky enough to have been following the Tour of Portugal cycling race this week were treated to a tasty little dust up between Spaniard Vicente de Mateus and Danish rival Asbjorn Kragh after their pair were involved in a collision. In truth, it was more school playground than Caesars Palace, but hugely entertaining, nonetheless - particularly de Mateus’s contender for the slowest right hook in the history of everything.

In celebration of the duo's duel, here are five other examples of how exciting it can be when sportsmen attack.

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Eric Cantona may have jumped feet first into a Crystal Palace fan but that seems like a minor indiscretion compared with the events of November 19, 2004. The Pacers-Pistons brawl has been labelled the most infamous in NBA history and resulted in suspensions and fines totalling 146 games and $11m respectively.

After a fight among the players had been broken up, a drink was thrown from the stands, much to the annoyance of the Pacers’ Ron Artest, who sought revenge by jumping into the crowd… and sparking a mass brawl.

2) Elizabeth Lambert

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of this clip is that Elizabeth Lambert only earnt a yellow card for her many, many sins.

In 2009, the then 20-year-old student found international notoriety after footage of her ‘wholehearted’ performance for the University of New Mexico against rivals Brigham Young University went viral. Not content with picking a fight with one player, Lambert basically roughed up anyone who came within a five metre radius of her during the match.

She was subsequently suspended from all sports, prompting her to issue a grovelling apology. “I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation," she said. "My actions were uncalled for."

3) Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer

The very nature of sport means that healthy rivalry sometimes spills over into violence. But that doesn’t help us understand how this happened:

The words 'Lee' and 'Bowyer' might go some way to explaing it, though.

Mild-mannered Alan Shearer hit the dressing-room roof afterwards and ordered his team-mates to issue public apologies for their shameful behaviour.

4) Bodin Issara

Badminton? Badminton!? BADMINTON!!??

Bodin Issara and Maneepong Jongjit had been doubles partners at the London 2012 Games but that counted for nothing when the Thai duo met at the Canadian Open last year.

The referee had already warned both players following a verbal exchange early in the match, but troubled flared again during a change of ends.

Issara, who surely could have embarked on a career in Muay Thai, was subsequently banned for two years, while Jongjit was suspended for three months, which seems a bit harsh given the battering he took.

5) Ottawa Senators vs Philadelphia Flyers

There’s something distinctly ‘It’s a Knockout’ about fighting in ice hockey - the big padded kits and the difficulty the players have remaining on their feet. But make no mistake, it’s brutal. And this was the mass brawl to end all mass brawls.

The four-minute melee earned the teams a record combined 419 penalty minutes - the most in a single game in the history of the NHL.

By the end of the game, 20 players had been ejected for their roles in the brawl, while the officials took an hour-and-a-half to deal with the penalties that had been handed out.